Self-engaging hook



NOV. 27, B MO SELF-ENGAGING HOOK I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 14, 1950 I INVENTOR (5575/? 5- MOORE ATTORNEY Nov. 27, 1956 L. B. MOORE SELF-ENGAGING HOOK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed e 14, 1950 INVENTOR NOV. 27, B M O SELF-ENGAGING HOOK I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 14; 1950 FIG. l5.

FIG. l2.

. INVENTOR L E5 75/? B. MOORE ATTORNEY United States SELF-ENGAGING HOOK Lester B. Moore, Dunellen, N. .1.

Application June 14, 1950, Serial No. 167,971)

14 Claims. (Cl. 24-2305) This invention relates to an automatic or self-engaging hook, which is particularly adapted for use in any assembly where a self-hooking device may be used to advantage, such for example as the hook element of a garment hanger, hoisting swivel, or portable lamp.

One object of this invention is a hook which turns automatically to hook around and secure itself to some other structure.

Another object is a self-turning hook.

Other objects will appear from the detailed description which follows:

The drawings comprising three sheets of thirteen figures, numbered Figs. 1 to 13 inclusive, variously illustrate how my invention may be embodied in various articles of commerce.

Fig. l is a side view of a hook assembly embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front view of a garment hanger showing how the hook assembly of Fig. 1 may be combined therewith;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in section of a fragment of the garment hanger and hook assembly of Fig. 3 somewhat enlarged;

Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive are top views of the garment hanger of Fig. 3 moving through various positions to cause the hook element to automatically engage an object;

Fig. 9 is a side view of a swivel embodying the invention;

Fig. 10 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 11 shows how the invention may be combined with a portable lamp;

Fig. 12 is an end view of a fragment of the hook structureof Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a view partly in section of a fragment of the structure of Fig. ll somewhat enlarged.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The hook assembly 11) (Fig. 1) may be combined with a garment hanger 11 (Fig. 3).

The hook assembly 10 includes the curved hook 12 and the concavo-convexly bent shank 13 which forms a continuation of the upright neck 14. The lower end of the neck 14 may be riveted over to form an enlarged head 15 or for retaining a washer 15. The hook assembly 1? is made of a circular stock such as heavy gauge steel wire, which is normally inherently stiff and inflexible.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the shank 13 or" the hook is bent backwardly and laterally or is olf-set relative to the central (vertical) axis of the neck 14, and is concavo-convexly curved lengthwise from the region 24 where the shank merges with the neck to the region where the shank merges with the curved portion 16 of the hook. Thehook 12 terminates in a tip 17. Referring to Fig. 2, the tip 17 is bent laterally at an, angle relative to the hook 12 and shank 13, so that between the point 22 and the tip 17, the hook defines a partial helix approximating a semi-helix. The approximate upper and lower limits of the concave-convex curve in the shank 13 are indicated by the points 22 and 24 (Fig. 2) respectively.

The hook assembly 111 may be combined with the conventional garment hanger 11 in such a manner that the upright neck 14 of the hook assembly 10 rotates freely in a central opening (Fig. 4) in the garment hanger, the shoulder blades of the garment hanger being secured together in any conventional manner as by means of the corrugated fasteners 1818 (Fig. 4), to provide a journal for the neck 14. Neck 14 of the hook assembly may be retained in correct operative position in any preferred manner as by means of a retaining brad 19 driven into the body of the garment hanger 11 substantially at right angles to the neck 14 so that the head of the brad engages the enlarged head 15 or base flange of the neck 14 (Fig. 4) to prevent the shank 14 of the hook assembly 10 from sliding downwards in the central opening in the garment hanger 11. A retaining Washer 15 may be used (see Fig. 4) to space the enlarged head formed at the bottom end of the neck 14 away from the relatively soft wood of the garment hanger 11.

The upright neck 14 of the hook assembly 10 is free to revolve in the central opening in the garment hanger 11 so that the off-set shank 13 is free to rotate the curved hook 12 in any direction. The garment hanger 11 is moved towards a suspension rod 211 until the off-set shank portion 13 of the hook assembly 1t? engages the curved surface of the suspension rod 211. The shape of the backwardly and laterally bent (or off-set) and concavo-convexly curved shank 13 is such that when the shank 13 engages the rod 211, the upright neck 14 revolves in the central opening in the garment hanger 11 to turn the hook portion 12 of the hook assembly 111 through the several positions shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, until the tip of the hook 17 passes over and around the suspension rod 2% and the curved hook 12 engages around the suspension rod 28 (Fig. 7), so that when the garment hanger 11 is released it will hang suspended upon the suspension rod 26 in the usual manner.

Figs. 9 and 10 show how the invention may be embodied in a swivel and hook assembly 41). The swivel 41 is provided with a central opening which is circular in cross section to receive the neck 42 of the concave-convexly bent hook 43. The neck 42 and the shank of the hook 43 are circular in cross section. An annular flange or collar 44 formed at the base of the neck 42 is drawn against the edge face 45 of the swivel when the lock nut 47 is screwed upon the male threaded upper end 46 of the neck 42. The swivel and hook assembly may include a ball race such as the bearing bed 4-8, cup washer 49, and ball bearings 5t-5tl. The lock. nut 47 when properly tensioned allows the hook 43 to turn freely relative to the ball race including the ball bearings 595tl. The swivel and hook assembly is attached to a suitable hoisting chain of which only the first link 51 is shown in broken lines.

The shank of the hook 43 is backwardly and laterally bent (or off-set) and is concavo-convexly curved lengthwise from a line 56 below the annular collar 44 to the line of merger 57 of the shank with the reversely curved hook portion. The tip 58 of the hook may be off-set relative to the shank of the hook. From the line of merger 57 to the tip 58 the cross section of the hook structure may change in shape from round to elliptical or to a flattened ellipse.

When the hoisting chain carries the swivel and hook assembly 4b into contact with the object to be lifted the shank of the hook 43 engages the face of the object to be hoisted and because of its shape the backwardly and laterally bent (off-set) and concavo-convexly curved shank causes the upright neck 42 to revolve in the swivel41 until:

the tip 58 of the reversel curved hook portion of the hook 43 passes under and around the article to be hoisted to engage the said article in hoisting position.

The invention may be combined with a portable lamp 80 (Fig. 11), consisting of the usual insulated head 81 for a lamp socket and a built-in electric-lamp switch S2. A lamp bulb 8d of the conventional screw base type is screwed in the lamp socket in the head 31, and the lamp bulb is protected by a lamp guard 35, consisting of the wire rods 88, anchored in a hub 89 to form the customary cage including the wire ribs 83 secured to split collar 86 which is fastened by a locking screw 87.

The hub 89 forms the cap of the lamp guard. It supports a sleeve dd which may be press-fitted therein, and wherein the neck 92 of a hook assembly 91 is mounted to revolve. The bottom end of the neck $2 is riveted over to form a head 93 which abuts the lower end of the sleeve 90 to retain the neck in place. The upper end of the neck 92 may be journalled in a washer Frill supported by the neck 92 and secured by the blisters which are formed .by pinching the neck 92 at its upper end. The head 93 and blisters 9d co-operate with the sleeve $6 and with the washer kill to prevent up and down (axial) movement of the neck 92 in the sleeve The shank 95 of the hook assembly 93. is backwardly and laterally bent or ofiet, and is concavo-convexly curved from a line 132 (Fig. 12) adjoining the neck 92, to a line 16% where the hook is reversely curved as at 96 to form the hook portion 97 which terminates in the laterally bent tip 98.

Electric current is supplied to the lamp bulb 84 through the switch 82 and the conventional twin conductor cable 99.

When the bent and concavo-convexly curved shank d engages a frame, cable, rod, or other structure, it causes the neck 92 to revolve in the sleeve 9% and turn the hook 97 until the tip 98 of the hook passes around the structure, to suspend the portable lamp till by its hook assembly 91.

Variations of applicants hook structure, and other adaptations thereof, will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

l. A hook structure having a hook portion, an erect neck portion, and a shank portion disposed between said hook and neck portions and joining them together, said hook, neck and shank portions being formed in one single piece, said hook portion from its line of juncture with said shank to the tip of said hook portion defining a partial helix, said neck portion and said shank portion being substantially circular in cross section, said shank portion being bent both backwardly and laterally off centre rela tive to the axial centre of the neck portion, and said shank portion being also concavo-convexly curved substantially throughout the length thereof.

2. A hook structure having a hook portion, an erect neck portion, and a shank portion disposed between said hook and neck portions and joining them together, said hook, neck, and shank portions being formed in one single piece, said hook portion defining a partial helix, said shank portion being angularly bent relative to the axial centre of the neck portion, and said shank portion being also concavo-convexly curved substantially throughout the length thereof.

3. In an automatic hook and in combination, a hub member, a hook structure having a semi-helical hook formed at one end thereof, a shank merging with and in olf-set continuation of said semi-helical hook, a neck merging with said shank and in continuation thereof, said hook, shank, and neck, being formed in one single piece, said neck being revolubly mounted in said hub member, said shank being angularly bent relative to the line of the central axis of the neck, said shank being circular in cross section and concavo-convexly curved, said concavo-convex curve extending along said shank from the region of its line of merger with the hook to the region of its line of merger with the neck, and said curved shank being free to turn when engaged and pass said hook around the engaging body to arrest turning movement of the hook.

4. A hook structure formed from a piece of rod which is substantially circular in cross-section, the upper end portion of said rod being curvedly bent to define an inverted substantially semi-helical hook, the lower end portion of said rod being straight and forming an erect and self-supporting neck portion defining a pivotal mounting for the hook structure, the section of rod extending between the upper and lower end portions constituting a shank integral with the upper and lower end portions for supporting the hook upon the neck portion, said shank curving lengthwise, and also curving rearwardly and laterally from its juncture with said neck portion, to define concavo-convex curves merging upon all sides with the hook and with the neck portion to elevate the crown of the hook above and in curvedly offset spaced relation to the neck portion to enable the hook structure to rotate when the neck portion is mounted to pivot and the shank engages a curved surface disposed crosswise thereto.

5. A hook structure for suspension from a rod-like object, said hook structure being formed fromone straight piece of rod, one end portion of said rod being straight to form an erect and self-supporting neck whereon the hook structure may be mounted to rotate, the intermediate portion of said rod forming a shank merging with the upper end of said neck portion and in continuation thereof, the opposite end portion of said rod being curvedly bent to form a substantially semi-circular inverted open-mouthed hook, said hook merging with the upper end of said shank portion and in continuation thereof, said shank portion being curvedly bent relative to the longitudinal axis of the neck in three directions, first concavo-convexly lengthwise and laterally from the merger of the shank portion with the neck portion to its merger with the hook, second laterally at the juncture of the shank and the neck portion to subtend an obtuse angle between the shank and the neck portion, and third rearwardly at the juncture of the shank and the neck portion to subtend an obtuse angle between the shank and the neck portion, thereby bringing the crown of the inverted hook over and above the neck portion but in offset and spaced relation thereto, and said neck portion when free to rotate being operable when the shank engages a rod-like object crosswise to turn said hook structure until said hook passes over and hooks around the rod-like object, to suspend the hook structure from said rod-like object.

6. A hook structure for suspension from a cross bar, said hook structure being formed from a straight piece of rod, one end portion of said rod being straight and forming an erect and self-supporting neck whereon the hook structure may be mounted to rotate freely, a shank merging with the upper end of said neck portion and integral therewith, the opposite end portion of said rod being bent to form a substantially semi-circular inverted open-mouthed hook merging at its shank end with the upper end of said shank portion and integral therewith, said shank portion being curvedly bent relative to the longitudinal axis of the neck in three directions, first concavo-convexly and laterally and extending from its integration with the neck portion to its integration with the hook, second laterally at its juncture with the neck portion and curving upwardly and laterally outwards at an obtuse angle to the neck portion, and third rearwardly at its juncture with the neck portion and curving upwardly and rearwardly at an obtuse angle to the neck portion, to bring the crown of the inverted hook over and above the neck portion but in offset relation with respect thereto, and said neck portion when mounted to rotate freely being operable when the concavo-convexly curved shank engages across a cross bar to swing said hook until it passes over and around the cross bar to suspend the hook structure therefrom.

7. The combination with a hook structure as defined in claim 1, of a swivel member wherein the neck portion of the hook structure is journalled to automatically rotate the hook structure about the axial centre of the neck portion whenever the concavo-convexly curved shank portion is brought into engag; rnent with a rod-like object extending crosswise relative to said shank.

8. The combination with a hook structure as defined in claim 2, of a swivel member, the neck portion of the hook structure being journ ed in said swivel to automatically rotate the hook structure about the axial centre of the neck portion whenever the concavo-convexly curved shank portion is brought into crosswise engagement with a rod-like object until the hook portion nooks around said rod-like object.

9. The combination with a hook structure according to claun 4, of a swivel member wherein the nect portion of the hook structure is pivotally mounted to swivel the hook structure about the axial centre of the neck portion whenever the shank engages the curved surface of a rod disposed crosswise thereto until the semi-helical hook engages around the rod to arrest the swivelling movement.

10. An automatic hook structure according to claim 3 wherein the hub member constitutes an integral part of a chain-link, and the hook structure depends from said chain-link.

11. An automatic hook according to claim 3 wherein the hub member forms a cap, a portable lamp-guard in cluding said cap, and the hook structure projecting outwardly from said portable lamp-guard.

12. The combination with an automatic hook structure according to claim 3, of a portable lamp-guard, said lamp-guard including a cap mounted at the apex of the lamp-guard, and the hub member being integrated with said cap so that the semi-he'ical hook of the hook structure projects outwardly from the apex of the lamp-guard.

13. The combination with an automatic hook structure according to claim 3, of a portable lamp-guard, the lamp-guard being a cage-like construction, said cage being closed at one end, said hub-like member being mounted upon said closed end of said cage, and the hook structure projecting outwardly from said cage.

1% The combination with an automatic hook structure according to claim 3 of a series of wire rods, said rods being attached to and radiating outwardly from the hub member of the automatic hook structure in spaced relation, said rods being cut to form a cage-like structure defining a lamp-guard, said hub member forming the cap of said lamp-guard, and the hook structure projecting outwardly from said cage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 586,762 Eaves et al. July 20, 1897 721,801 Hooker Mar. 3, 1903 1,313,807 Frazier Aug. 19, 1919 1,687,409 Weber Oct. 9, 1928 2,171,181 Jordan et al. Aug. 29, 1939 2,245,126 Day June 10, 1941 2,286,415 ewel June 16, 1942 

